Our History

 

FII-ON’s roots go back to 1997 when Health Canada commissioned a literature review aimed at developing an action plan to promote Father Involvement in Ontario. It had become clear at that time that fatherlessness presented a challenge in relation to healthy child development and resiliency.

From these modest beginnings has evolved a long-term vision and strong commitment which, over time, have led to some significant collective achievements within Ontario, across Canada, and into other nations around the world. 

Approach

Within the broad framework of the Population Health Approach, the FII-ON general mobilization approach includes a mix of ongoing interventions: community development, community capacity building, social marketing, creation of partnerships, knowledge development and educational activities. The following dimensions of the population Health Approach are intended to orient the work of the FII-ON:

• On WHAT do we take action?
• With WHOM do we act?
• HOW do we take action?

Specific Determinants of Health (WHAT)

Within the population health framework, the following specific determinants are highlighted as FII-ON's main focus and potential fields of intervention. These are the main entry points:

• Healthy child development
• Gender
• Coping skills
• Social support networks
• Social environments
• Employment and working conditions

Levels of intervention (WHOM)

FII-ON acts at the community and societal level, with various systems and sectors, so that families and individuals may benefit from the transformations that will occur as a result of its efforts.

Action Strategies (HOW)

FII-ON uses an inclusive approach in the development and implementation of an evolving set of action strategies that are based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. The FII-ON main strategic perspectives will be strengthening community capacity for action, building healthy public policy and developing personal skills.

Structure and Membership

FII-ON is organized as a provincial network of local intersectoral coalitions, which lead initiatives linked to the concerted actions of fathers, agencies, community groups and the business sector in order to support their efforts to create welcoming communities and promote father involvement as a supportive and protective condition for healthy child development and resiliency.

Operational Commitments

FII-ON will:

• Operate as a decentralized network, where each local coalition is invited to take a leadership role in relevant to their communities and fields of expertise, and to be responsible for developing and implementing local initiatives.
• Promote and coordinate access to expertise on specific issues. This access to expertise will act as a support to the implementation of local initiatives and action plans.
• Minimize duplication in the development of tools (social marketing, research, training packages, etc.).
• Maximize the use of electronic networks.
• Apply learning organization principals
• Implement evaluation processes as part of its knowledge development activities.

Population Health Approach

The overall goal of a population health approach is to maintain and improve the health of the entire population ad to reduce inequalities in the health between population groups. There is strong evidence indicating that factors outside the healthcare system significantly affect health….In a population health approach, the entire range of known (i.e., evidence-based) individual and collective factors and conditions that determine population health status - and interactions among them - are taken into account in planning action to improve health. (Taking Action on Population Health: A Position Paper for Health Promotion and Programs Branch Staff, Health Canada, 1998)

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

In the early 1980's, a second major trend was underway with which Canada was more centrally involved… The new health promotion was based on the perspective that health is determined in important ways by social and environmental factors (Kickbusch, 1986; World Health Organization, 1984). This vision of health promotion was reinforced in 1986 when Canada hosted the First International Conference on Health Promotion which was marked by the release of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (Charter 1986) (Ann Pederson, Michael O'Neill, Irving Rootman, Health Promotion in Canada: Provincial, National and International perspectives 1994)

Learning Organization

A learning organization is a collective undertaking rooted in action:

• A learning organization is characterized by its ability to continually improve performance through new ideas, knowledge and insights. It is able to constantly anticipate, innovate and find new and better ways to fulfill its mission. It is continually changing its behaviour to reflect new ideas and insights.
• It is built around people. People, their knowledge, know-how and ability to innovate are at the heart of the learning organization.
• It recognizes that learning is a collective undertaking involving the exchange of knowledge and ideas among people working together in teams and networks.

(A Public Service Learning Organization: From Coast to Coast to Coast - Directions for the Future, June 2000)

Ultimate Outcome

Responsible father involvement and the increased well-being and resiliency of children.

Intermediate Outcomes

With increasing father involvement, the intermediary outcomes for children will be:

• Increased self-esteem 
• Increased emotional management competencies
• Increased cognitive abilities
• Increased social competencies
• Increased opportunities to experience success
• Improved scholastic achievements

About Us

Guiding Principles

History Documents